What’s the secret history of corner stores or the nine lives of our bank buildings? What qualities makes a neighborhood walkable? Is it possible to time travel around Rittenhouse? Can Philadelphians walk on water?

Join PlanPhilly as we present Jane’s Walk, a weekend of free walks taking place May 1-3 that rewards curiosity as people explore the city in dialogue together. The whole idea is to slow down and look closer, get out and get talking.

Jane’s Walks are roving conversations led by volunteers, with professional and citizen experts sharing ideas, observations, and thinking out loud about our city. All walks are free and open to anyone. They’re occasions to learn from one another as we discuss what we appreciate in our city, how our neighborhoods change, and our hopes for making Philly a more livable city for all.

Jane’s Walk is a global event of locally led walks inspired by the legacy of urban activist and writer Jane Jacobs. Jane’s Walk started in Toronto in 2007 and volunteers present hundreds of walks in more than 100 cities around the globe. (Jane superfans already know that we like her work so much we borrowed “Eyes on the Street” from her writing.)

PlanPhilly is proud to present Jane’s Walk again because we think Philadelphians deserve the chance to talk about our city’s public history, civic environment, and hope for improvement in person, on the street, in real time. Plus it’s a great excuse to walk the city you love!

About the author

Ashley Hahn, Contributor

Ashley Hahn is an independent writer with a background in historic preservation and city planning. She started Eyes on the Street for PlanPhilly in 2011 and was PlanPhilly's managing editor from 2015-2017. Ashley has lived in 12 zip codes that she can think of, including neighborhoods in Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, and New York. She is a Philadelphian by choice.